Film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine

ABSTRACT

A film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine includes a primary frame on which is installed a sealing cutter, an arm extending from the primary frame for mounting a roll of film which has an end extending through between two first rollers, one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor, a secondary frame mounted on one side of the primary frame, a micro-switch installed on the secondary frame, a movable rod movably mounted on the secondary frame so that when a packaging film is pulled upwardly by articles, the movable rod will be moved upwardly to leave the micro-switch thereby turning on a first electric motor to drive the first rollers to feed a predetermined length of the packaging film for packaging the articles, another end of the packaging film under the primary frame being moved by second rollers driven by a second electric motor, the articles being fed by a conveyor belt onto a platform and then wrapped by the packaging film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional packaging machine 1 generally includes a frame on which are mounted an upper and lower shrinking films 2. As the articles 3 to be packaged are transmitted to the platform by a conveying system 4, the piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 5 will push the articles 3 (such as beer, soft drinks, etc.) to the other side of the platform and then the articles 3 are packaged by the shrinking film 2. Thereafter, the shrinking film is severed by a cutter and finally the articles 3 are transmitted to a shrinking machine for shrinking the film 2.

[0005] However, the film feeding operation of the conventional packaging machine 1 suffers from the following drawbacks:

[0006] Firstly, a sealing line will be formed every time when the packaging film 2 is severed thereby causing the packaging film 2 wrapping the article 3 to have two creases, one at the front end and the other at the rear end and therefore seriously influencing the outlook of the package.

[0007] Secondly, it is very difficult to control the length of the film for packaging the article 3 so that the upper film is often not the same as the lower film thus making it only suitable for use with single color packaging and unfit for multi-color packaging.

[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a continuous feeding device for a single color film packaging machine which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine.

[0010] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine which can accurately control the feeding of the film for packaging articles.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine which can ensure the color pattern on the packaging film to be located at the same position in every package.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine which can reduce the number of crease in the package.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine includes a primary frame on which is installed a sealing cutter, an arm extending from the primary frame for mounting a roll of film which has an end extending through between two first rollers, one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor, a secondary frame mounted on one side of the primary frame, a micro-switch installed on the secondary frame, a movable rod movably mounted on the secondary frame so that when a packaging film is pulled upwardly by articles, the movable rod will be moved upwardly to leave the micro-switch thereby turning on a first electric motor to drive the first rollers to feed a predetermined length of the packaging film for packaging the articles, another end of the packaging film under the primary frame being moved by second rollers driven by a second electric motor, the articles being fed by a conveyor belt onto a platform and then wrapped by the packaging film.

[0014] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

[0015] Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional packaging machine;

[0017]FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the conventional packaging machine;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a front view of a single layer color film packaging machine according to the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a front view of a film feeding device for the single layer color film packaging machine according to the present invention;

[0020]FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the working principle of the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 8 illustrates a packaging film according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0023] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 3 thereof, the packaging machine 10 according to the present invention generally comprises a supplying system 11 for supplying articles 110 in a predetermined quantity (such as 6, 12 bottles . . . etc.) to a feeding device 20. Then, the feeding device 20 causes the packaging film 300 to wrap the articles 110 and the packaging film 300 is severed by a sealing cutter 400. Thereafter, the articles 110 are transmitted to a shrinking device 500 for shrinking the packaging film 330 on the articles 110.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine according to the present invention comprises a primary frame 15 on which is installed a sealing cutter 400. An arm 31 extends from the primary frame 15 for mounting a roll of film 301 which has an end extending through between two rollers 32. One of the rollers 32 is driven by an electric motor 33. A secondary frame 34 is mounted on the front side of the primary frame 15. On the secondary frame 34 are installed a micro-switch 35 and a movable rod 36, so that when the packaging film 300 is pulled upwardly by the articles 110, the movable rod 36 will be moved upwardly to leave the micro-switch 35 thereby turning on the electric motor 33 to drive the rollers 32 to feed a predetermined length of the packaging film 300 for packaging the articles 110. The other end of the packaging film 300 under the primary frame 15 is moved by rollers 39 driven by an electric motor 38. The articles 110 is fed by a conveyor belt 26 onto a platform 27 and then wrapped by the packaging film 300. When the packaging film 300 is severed by the sealing cutter 400, the packaging film 300 will be formed with a crease 305 (see FIG. 7). In the meantime, the electric motor 38 drives the rollers 39 to pull the packaging film 300 to move downwardly until the detecting point 302 of the packaging film 300 is detected by a sensor 37 mounted on the primary frame 15. As a consequence, the packaging film 300 returns to its normal tightness for next packaging operation. That is, the crease 305 is pulled downwardly so that the next package will not include the crease 305. Furthermore, the packaging film 300 will be adjusted in position in every packaging operation so that the color pattern on the packaging film 300 will be located at the same position in packaging operation.

[0025] Further, an air pipe 270 is mounted between the front end of the platform 27 and the lower mod of the sealing cutter 400 for blowing in air to cool the crease 305 of the packaging film 300 thereby preventing breakage of the packaging film 300. A conveyor belt 261 is installed between the lower mold of the sealing cutter 400 and the film shrinking device for transmitting the articles 110 to the film shrinking device thereby keeping the articles 110 at the predetermined position.

[0026] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

[0027] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine comprising: a primary frame on which is installed a sealing cutter; an arm extending from said primary frame for mounting a roll of film which has an end extending through between two first rollers, one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor; a secondary frame mounted on one side of said primary frame; a micro-switch installed on the secondary frame; a movable rod movably mounted on said secondary frame so that when a packaging film is pulled upwardly by articles, said movable rod will be moved upwardly to leave said micro-switch thereby turning on a first electric motor to drive said first rollers to feed a predetermined length of said packaging film for packaging said articles, another end of said packaging film under said primary frame being moved by second rollers driven by a second electric motor, said articles being fed by a conveyor belt onto a platform and then wrapped by said packaging film; whereby when said packaging film is severed by said sealing cutter, said packaging film will be formed with a crease and in the meantime, said second electric motor drives said second rollers to pull said packaging film to move downwardly until a detecting point of said packaging film is detected by a sensor mounted on said primary frame thereby causing said packaging film to return to normal tightness for next packaging operation and pulling said crease downwardly so as not be included in next package.
 2. The film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air pipe is mounted between an end of said platform and a lower mod of said sealing cutter for blowing in air to cool said crease of said packaging film thereby preventing breakage of said package. 